The research design for this doctoral study uses mixed methods, with quantitative questionaries bookended with qualitative discussions with the voluntary participants drawn from the national SIO community
The initial primary research study will use Delphi techniques to manage discussions with a small group of key academic and strategic SIO stakeholders, in order to develop understanding within the theoretical framework of what these participants recognise as personal workplace stressors and how such stressors are reacted to
The second study will build on this initial understanding and test these stressor perceptions across a wider participant base, progressing this across a two questionnaire waves using existing scales to explore how SIO workplace well-being is impacted by personal factors including passion for work and ability to recover from the demands of duty
To increase analytical value participants will need to be involved in both waves of questionnaires, because the use of these time separated questionaries will enhance the researcher’s ability to evidence practitioner reality against existing theoretical assumptions
The final study will seek to engage a small group of second study participants in short interviews aimed at exploring in more depth key themes emerging from the second study
Anonymised findings will ultimately form part of a doctoral thesis, but will also be fed back with evidenced commentary into key policing stakeholders via the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Recruitment, Retention and Wellbeing of Investigator (RRWI), Investigator Wellbeing Sub Group to inform future SIO well-being practice
The Thin Blue Line 